Machu Picchu!!!

Trip Start Sep 23, 2011

Trip End Dec 19, 2011

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Where I stayed

Pirwa Hostal, Aguas Calientes

(Machu Picchu hotels)

What I did

Machu Picchu Urubamba

Flag of Peru Machu Picchu, Sacred Valley, Peru
Sunday, November 6, 2011

After three hour picturesque train journey we arrived in Aguas Calientes, also known as Machu Picchu Pueblo. We had booked a hostel for one night so we could get up to Machu Picchu very early the next morning and therefor hopefully avoid the day trip crowds who arrive from Cusco. Aguas Calientes was even worse for being hassled than Copacabana and Cusco. This tiny little town is based on tourist visiting Machu Picchu and they don't seem to know the meaning of the words No Gracias... :-)

Yes! We made it up to the gate at opening time (06:00am)!!!

This meant we had to get up at 04:00am to be at the bus stop at 05:00am, so we would be one of the first in the queue for the first bus up to Machu Picchu which left at 05:30am..

I was there!

.

And then it was very very cloudy when we got to the top and we could not see anything of Machu Picchu and to top it off it started raining a little.... I was very disappointed to say the least..... We climbed up to the supposed viewpoint and waited.

And then, our patience was rewarded!! At about 07:00am the sky cleared and shortly after the sun began to shine. The view was AMAZING!!!!!

We had heard many stories and also I had heard some people who were not so impressed by it, saying it was too touristy. So I was really hoping I wouldn't be disappointed. And in the beginning when we could hardly see a hand in front of our faces I was, but then when we got a look at the 'lost' city of the Inca's that feeling disappeared. The view was magical!

It was really worth the getting up early and waiting in the rain. When we started walking around the site we could see more and more tourists entering the gate. As we got to Machu Picchu so early we stayed ahead of the big tour groups of tourists.

Enjoy the small selection of photo's.....

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View from train to Aguas Calientes	Rio Urubamba runs along traintracks & through A.C.	Main square in Aguas Calientes	The train
The first Inca ruin at Machu Picchu	Llama at Machu Picchu	A bit cloudy	Slowly Machu Picchu is showing itself
Nearly there...	Amazing!	Inca houses	Another Machu Picchu view
Window	And another Machu Pichu view	Built on top of a mountain	The jungle trail down
Aguas Calientes